ModVic - Modern Victorian Home Restoration

Week 17 of the Restoration (10/22/2007 – 10/26/2007)

Oct 26

Written by: Bruce Rosenbaum
10/26/2007 2:00 AM 

Exterior painting was the focus this week and painting it was. Lots of accent and detail paint went on the decorative pieces of the house. Next week – the weather is projected to be nice – so we’re renting the lift again for the high parts of the tower.
 
Still waiting on the approved plans from the town – we’re hoping this week it will come through and the roof can be closed up and made watertight.
 
The guys are trying to keep going inside and were able to demo some of the 2nd floor carriage house (future bedroom, bathroom and laundry room). It’s amazing to see when there are no walls – how big the place looks!
 
Renato worked on the arched doorsfor the 3rd floor bedrooms. He removed all the paint and repaired the wood. We will be painting them instead of staining because the wood has a lot of repairs that would not show well with stain.
 
Eric got the support cedar “collar ties” up in 3rd floor turret room. They do the job and look great too! Now we’ll brace the supports with custom made black brackets and carriage bolts for additional support.
 
The antique street lamp post went up this week. Fernando even posed like he’s a tough guy on a street corner next to the lamppost… let me tell you… he’s too much of a nice guy to be a tough guy. Fernando also removed some of the asphalt so we can start some landscaping close to the house. However, we are now considering ripping up all the asphalt and redoing the driveway in total. There’s about 10 inches of asphalt already in place and the pitch is very steep. New asphalt will look great and improve water drainage. We would also like to place real cobblestones at the entranceways…stay tuned to see if we can make it all happen.
 
Jim Piersiak, the plumber was able to remove the 4 separate gas pipes so we replaced the bottom boards on the carriage house portion of the house. We’ll just have one gas line and meter now coming into the house. We also are now in the process of getting the gas fireplace inserts so we broke into the “dummy” wall in the dining room fireplace to size up the dimensions. Next week we’ll take the measurements of all the fireplace boxes so we can order the proper sized gas inserts.
 
Dimitris Moskofides, from Delta M Electric started working on the electrical needs for the house. We’ve now decided that were going to put up 3/8th gypsum board before we wet plaster – that way we don’t have to patch all the holes the electrician needs to make to improve the electrical box supports to the studs in the walls.
 
The magical transformation of 390 Mount Hope Street is now appearing before us. We are reaching into the past and pulling the Freeman home well into the future. Hopefully, Benjamin Stanley Freeman would approve.

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Neighbor Comments

2/27/08
I read about the Houdini thing at the jail in North Attleboro. I was born and raised there in North Attleboro and I remember my grandfather telling me about a magician that had a floating lady in one of the store fronts in downtown for a week. I not sure if that was Houdini, for some reason I think it was Blackwell. Not sure if he was around the same time or not. Just thought I would give you that info in case it helps you out. By the way, what a beautiful job you have done with the Freeman house. If I win the lottery, I would buy it in a second. Keep up the good work there and will come to open house in April.
John Amaral

1/27/08
Hi Bruce and Melanie,
My Great Grandparents were Annie and Herman Theile who lived at 390 Mt. Hope Street (Mt. Hope Manor) in the early 1900’s.  I would love to talk with you and your wife about the house and the history I know from my Great Aunt Mrs. Bell and my mother who was born there.  As a young girl I used to polish the mahogany banister on the circular staircase to the third floor.  I have a lot of fond memories regarding that house, and I would love to reminisce and share what I know about its history.  Sincerely, Donna Jurdak, N Attleboro MA

8/27/07
Just wanted to tell you we are watching your progress with great enthusiasm and excitement!  We are only one house away and my ten year old son is fascinated with your progress and checks on your work several times a day.  We can't wait to come in and see your progress. Thank you for bring this house back to life, I have been waiting for its rebirth patiently for years. Julia Wheatley (juliawh@comcast.net)

7/24/07
Hi Bruce :My cousin Dorothy Forbes just called me to tell me about the Victorian Home in North Attleboro . My great great grandparents owned and lived there many many years ago. Dorothy was thrilled to of had the opportunity to go thru the home. My name is Albert Berard ,my age is 83 and I don't remember too much about the house other than what was told to me by my parents and grandparents on the Berard side.I once had a photo of some relative by the name of LaPlant that was recently discarded because I have no other living sister or brother that could explain to me who the person was . In past years I've seen the house many times and remember the servant quarters and also a carriage house that I believe is no longer there. the years have taken a toll on my memory.I still have an old brownish grey photo of the home .It's been many years since the relatives lived there. I seem to remember something about a Priest by the name of LaPlant living there after his retirement. I'll have to talk to Dorothy about that when I see her in a couple weeks. Albert J. Berard.

7/23/07
I drove by the house on Mt. Hope Street earlier this evening. I read about your project in the Sun Chronicle, Sunday. I am an artist and one of the pieces I did a few years back was a pen and ink drawing of North Attleboro center around 1900. I was going to drop off one of the prints, if you'd like it. I can appreciate your undertaking. A friend of mine and I gutted his Queen Anne Vic close to eight years ago and remodeled it. Neither of us had ever done something that involved before. We have since parted ways. I work for a landscape company now and do some remodeling/ fix up jobs in the winter, if the opportunity comes along. I'd like to see the work you are doing, just curious and if you need a hand (weekends, rain days, evenings) let me know. Learning and gaining experience are always of interest to me. If you'd like the print, free, let me know. Best wishes to your success.
Sincerely, Peter Clarke.
  
 

For further information, or to schedule a personal visit of a property with Bruce and Melanie Rosenbaum please call 781-784-0250 or email bruce@modvic.com. Thanks for visiting!
  
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